To reflect the children and young people we care for in our city, we need additional foster carers from diverse backgrounds with the skills and experience to help children develop a positive sense of their own identity and pride.
Black History Month shared on the official website earlier this year: “By addressing disproportionality, providing positive role models, and reducing placement breakdowns, increasing the number of Black foster carers can significantly improve the well-being and long-term outcomes for Black children in care.”
Children from ethnic minority communities entering foster care need the opportunity to celebrate their history and cultural heritage. They also require support to manage any racism and discrimination they may experience.
Foster Portsmouth are marking Black History Month this October by celebrating the vital contribution of all our existing foster carers from the Black and other ethnic minority communities – and to raise awareness of the need for more – as well as the diversity of the children in our care.
Foster Portsmouth’s pledge to our children and young people includes the crucial promise: “Your identity is important to us, and we promise to help you with connecting to your heritage and history.” Working in partnership with our foster carers is critical to this.
When placing a child with a foster family, we consider a range of criteria to ensure the best match possible and secure its success. These include not only the age and gender of the child and those of the foster carer’s children, but also the number of children in the home, location, ethnicity and religion, as well as additional factors such as pets. However, the most important consideration is the individual needs of the child and a foster carer’s experience.
Our foster carers come from all walks of life, and they all share the same commitment and motivation to make a positive difference to a child’s life. This could be a short or long-term arrangement until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children seeking asylum or children with a disability, supported lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby placement, or respite care.
Foster Portsmouth welcomes all enquiries about fostering regardless of age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, and marital, residential or work status.
Can you open your heart to Portsmouth’s vulnerable children and young people?
To enquire about fostering with Foster Portsmouth, or to arrange a 1:1 with one of our experienced team or existing foster carers, please fill in our contact form below, call 023 9283 4071 or email fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
To read Black History Month’s full article on fostering click here.
